The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

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My last entry touched on those plants that are still holding up this far into the Fall. One of those that is still standing with pride is Catmint (Nepeta) ‘Walker’s Low’.   

This perennial has been a reliable and maintenance free performer since I planted a bunch of them a few years ago. I’m sure many of you are already familiar with this gem, but if not, some factoids for you:

  • The typical size is about 30″ x 36″ so make sure it is given enough room to mature as often the tags on these indicate they are smaller. Each spring I consider moving mine closer together as there appears to be too much space between them

            Only to see them fill in completely later in the season

  • Here in zone 6B, it starts blooming in late spring and will bloom into October if pruned/sheared appropriately. Speaking of which …
  • If sheared by about 2/3 in early summer, ‘Walker’s Low’ will bloom again in late August and the foliage will come back cleaner as well.
  • The blooms are a beautiful blue/violet color 
  • The foliage is a grey/green color and is aromatic if you brush against it. And because of that …
  • It is both deer and rabbit resistant. Mine have never been touched and that is saying something.
  • Nepeta prefers sunny and hot conditions and therefore well draining soil. Fortunately for me, I have mine in the only spot in my entire yard where the soil drains exceptionally well.They are planted in the sandy soil that was added when my walkway was constructed. I have tried these in other not so well draining areas and they have never survived the winter.  
  • Was named the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2007 by the PPA.
  • The cultivar name ‘Walker’s Low’ comes from the name of a garden in England. Do not expect this tough performer to stay “low”. 
  • Was introduced to the public in England in 1988.
  • Prefers full sun but can handle partial shade. I have mine in partial shade and they have performed amazingly well.
  • It is a magnet for bees and the collective humming sound in the summer can’t be topped           
  • Survives in zones 3-8.
  • For design purposes, it looks great if planted underneath rose bushes not only because of the color/texture contrast, but because the foliage conveniently covers the not so great looking lower foliage on the roses. Of course, I swore of roses earlier this summer, so this doesn’t apply to me.
  • For my design purposes, I use these as a ground cover to soften the edges of my front walkway.

  • Walker’s Low’ mixes and matches well with other shrubs/perennials

You like? Me too.
ONG

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9 Responses

  2. I have had lots of Nepeta Walkers Low and have mixed feelings about this plant. It is wonderful in my alley garden but not so wonderful coming up my front walk or going along a narrow walk to my back garden.

    It blooms well in the spring and early summer in zone 5,but even with cutting back never seems to deserve its spot. It does much better in my place in Wisconsin.

    Eileen

  3. I couldn’t agree more, it is a near-ideal plant. I’ve planted it everywhere in my garden, but unfortunately, the neighborhood cats love it even more. I don’t think even one plant escaped being crushed and gnawed this year. I’ve almost given up on them, they get about to the point where they are going to bloom, then the cats notice them and are rolling all over them, reducing them to a pile of shredded stems 🙁

  8. I love catmint, it always looks good, and is really good fun to cut back to the nice new growth that always forms in the late summer. I once had a cat when working and living at Compton Acres that would chew on it so much that it would completely ‘trip out’, and frothing at the mouth ended up attacking members of the visiting public….Great stuff catmint!!

  9. It may be deer proof, but it’s not cat proof!
    I put a wire cage over it to save the base from the rolling cats, and now it’s got a dead bit where they continually pee!

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